(NOT SO SECRET WEAPON)
ACTS 4:23-37
THE MODEL CHURCH – LESSON #9
· What are some of the secret, or not so secret, weapons that men use on
women to get their way.
· What are some of the secret, or not so secret weapons that men use on
men to get their way?
· How is prayer a not so secret weapon?
· Should I use prayer to get my way?
· What have you seen God do in answer to prayer?
We return to our study of
the
We need to understand a
little of the background of this passage.
Acts 3:1-11 - Peter and John healed a man who was lame from birth.
Acts 3:12-26 - Peter gave a Spirit empowered-message. Many were saved as a result.
Acts 4:1-12 - Peter and John were arrested by the leadership. And they had another opportunity to witness
for Christ.
Acts 4:13-22 - They had no reason to throw these men in jail. They decided to
release them with threats. And we saw
last time that Peter and John were under pressure because of their testimony
for God.
Vs. 23 - When they were released they gathered themselves together with other
believers. I imagine that they had already gathered to pray for Peter and John
once word got out that they were taken into custody.
RECOGNITION OF THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD - Vss. 24-28
Vs. 24 - Notice what was done. They lifted up their voice to God with one
accord. They were in total harmony and
agreement. Obviously people prayed one
at a time, but the people were in total agreement with the prayer that was
uttered. They were a prayer team.
· Every thing is under God's sovereign control. He is Lord. Name some of the specific things that are
under His control.
Because everything is under
control we can endure any trial, and problem, and puzzling situation because we
know that God is in total control. And we can come to Him in prayer because we
know that He is in total control.
Vs. 25-26 - They also recognize the Lord as the God of Scriptures. They see what
was done to Him as a fulfillment of Psalm 2:1-2.
They realize that what had
happened to Jesus was part of God's sovereign plan for the redemption of the
world.
Vss. 27-28 - What Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of
REQUEST FOR SUPPLY FROM GOD
- Vss. 29-30
Vs. 29 - The apostles ask the Lord to
look at the threatenings, to take note of them.
Boldness is asked for to
speak the Word of God.
They were in one accord
asking for boldness.
Not just the apostles, but
everyone gathered was asking for boldness.
The most important job in
this church is preaching and teaching the Word of God.
Matthew 28:19-20
1 Timothy 4:12-13
2 Timothy 4:2
1 Corinthians 1:18
1 Corinthians 1:21
The early church asked for
boldness.
We do not ask enough for
boldness.
We do not ask in unison for
boldness.
We should ask for boldness
for the Pastor or whoever is speaking.
We should ask for boldness
for the youth leaders, Good News Club teachers, Sunday School Teachers, and
Small Blessings Teachers.
We should ask for boldness
for ourselves, that when we are in witnessing situations or sharing with other
Christians that we will have boldness.
Vs. 30 - Here's an
interesting thing. A healing had gotten
them in trouble and they were asking them for more healing.
We pray a lot for physical
healing.
I think we need to pray for
spiritual healing.
The healing of relationships
with others
The healing of peoples' walk
with God
The healing that comes from
knowing Christ as Savior
I believe that we should
also ask for signs and wonders.
I don't think we should ask
for the same kind of signs and wonders found in the church in Acts.
But I do think we should ask
for,
What we need signs and
wonders of God's Holy Spirit moving, empowering and convicting in our midst.
I feel that there should be
evidence in just about every service that God is at work.
We just don't ask God to do
anything much, and so he doesn't. Mark 11:22-24
RECEPTION OF STRENGTH FROM
GOD - Vss. 31
Vs. 31 - The place was shaken. And we
need the Lord to shake this place up, and to shake me up too.
They were all filled with
the Holy Ghost. There were two kinds of strength received.
And the Word of God was
spoken with boldness.
Notice there was great power
on the speaking of the Apostles. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
God gave them what they
asked.
So let's do some asking.
Let's ask for boldness.
Let's ask for changes in
people's lives.
Let's ask for souls.
Let's ask for something to
happen.